Sing us a song, you're the piano woman

Beth Christensen is good friends with her neighbors. As part of the Claridge Court living community, she gets to attend all of the events in the housing complex, including yoga, volleyball, community dinners, and more. 

... Did I mention she's the youngest one there by 50 years? 

Beth is part of the intergenerational programming initiative at Claridge Court Senior Home, which partners with the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory to mingle students and seniors. A collaborative piano performance major, Beth lives in the senior home in exchange for music concerts, which she performs for the residents regularly. 

• Beth is encouraged to immerse herself in the community, and she's become close friends with many of the residents – most of whom are over five decades her senior. 
• “I’m just part of the community, and it’s awesome,” Beth said. “There’s a lot of special connections I’ve made. My friend Pat was an educator, and I’m a piano teacher. She has great ideas about how to help kids who are struggling, and I can always ask her advice. We do puzzles together, take walks and go to dinner. I tell her about shows I’m watching. She’s been a great friend, and she’s just one example. I feel so nurtured by these friendships.”

Play that funky music

When Beth first started playing at the senior home, she stuck to more traditional tunes and classical music. Now that she's gotten to know many of the residents, she feels more comfortable branching out and playing modern music 

“It’s really fun to have a relationship with your audience as a performer,” shared Beth of playing for her neighbors. "It’s fun to be able to ask what kind of music people want to hear and work it into my repertoire."

❤️ Bottom line: More than anything, Beth is grateful for the connections she's made at her home in the senior community – all while pursuing her passion. 

• “Music is such a connecting force. It bridges the divisions that exist between people,” she shared with UMKC Today. “Having the opportunity to make connections with a community that’s several generations older than me has been so special. These connections don’t make our differences go away, but it helps us really appreciate each other. It’s been such a beautiful experience.”